Lack of sunlight exposes Irish to severe illnesses

Irish people are at a severe risk of developing a range of serious health conditions due to the country’s bad weather and cloud-covered summers.

Our lack of exposure to the sun means most of us are vitamin-D deficient and at a serious risk of developing MS, cancer, age-related mental decline, schizophrenia, and cardiovascular diseases among others.

Groundbreaking research at University College Cork is set to discover how we can improve our intake of vitamin D.

The study is expected to influence European recommendations on the daily dose of the vitamin.

Study co-ordinator Kelly Seamans said: “The vitamin can be found in fortified milks and orange juices, oily fish, egg yolks, and meat such as kidneys, liver and hearts, but it is very difficult to get a sufficient amount from food alone.

“If you are a vegetarian or a vegan, coupled with the lack of sun, your intake of vitamin D would be very, very low.

“There are certain thresholds of the vitamin and if you are below that, you are at a severe risk of a multitude of diseases. A lot of Irish people are actually very much below this band.”

The research group is recruiting men and women between the ages of 50 and 75 to take part in the study at UCC. Those interested in taking part should contact Ms Seamans on 021 4901336.